About Randy Pausch
Part I: Introduction
Part II: Vocabulary
Reading Comprehension
Text Analysis
100

Randy's main profession in life.

What is...

College Professor?

100

Why Jai did not want Randy to do the lecture.

What is...

She thought it would take time away from her and the kids, and she didn't want him to miss her birthday?

100

To treat (someone) in an indulgent or overprotective way.

What is...

Coddled?

100

List one of Randy's childhood dreams.

What is...

Being in 0 gravity, Playing in the NFL, Authoring an article in the World Book Encyclopedia, Being Captain Kirk, Winning stuffed animals, OR being a Disney Imagineer?

100

What Randy believes the job of every parent should be.

What is... 

To show their children that they love them?

200

Randy's diagnosis.

What is...

Pancreatic Cancer?

200

What Randy learned soon after agreeing to do his Last Lecture.

What is...

His treatment was no longer working and he had a few months to live?

200

Define "precocious".

What is...

Gifted? Advanced? Having developed certain skills or proclivities at an earlier age than normal?

200

Name one thing Randy painted on his bedroom wall.

What is...

Quadratic formula, an elevator, Pandora's box, chess pieces, Disco sucks, etc.?

200

The lesson about dreams that is implied by the metaphor of an "elevator in a ranch house".

What is... 

Don't be afraid to dream beyond your "limits," as your imagination and creativity can take you anywhere?

300

Randy's wife's name.

What is...

Jai?

300

How Randy believes you should handle an "elephant in the room".

What is...

Address it?

300

The quality of being eager to learn or ask questions, or the desire to discover as much as possible about things.

What is...

Inquisitiveness?

300

The reason Randy knew NASA wouldn't want him as an astronaut.

What is... 

He wore glasses?

300

One reason why Randy feels like he hit the "parent lottery".

What is... 

His mother's high expectations and limited praise pushed him to pursue his dreams? His father's dedication to helping people and his encouragement of Randy's creativity/imagination helped him become the man he is today?

400

The number of children Randy has.

What is...

Three?

400

How Randy addressed his "elephant in the room" at the start of his lecture.

What is...

He showed his CT scans and let the audience see his tumors?

400

This word means the same thing as "allegorical".

What is...

Parabolic?

400

The loophole Randy found that would allow him to float with his students.

What is... 

Journalists from the students' hometown were allowed to ride with them?

400

Randy Pausch's purpose for this book and his lecture.

What is... 

To leave a legacy for his children? To encourage other to pursue their dreams? 

500

What made Randy unique.

What is...

That he achieved all of his childhood dreams?

500

The title Randy sent the school when he decided what he wanted to talk about in his lecture.

What is...

"Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams"?

500

A way of dealing with problems or situations that focuses on practical approaches and solutions.

What is...

Pragmatism?

500

The reason why Randy quotes his father every day.

What is... 

"If you offer wisdom from a third party, it seems less arrogant and more acceptable"?

500

A life lesson that can be learned from Chapter 6, "Getting to Zero G".

What is...

Don't be afraid to push beyond the "brick walls" you encounter in life - the push through is worth it? Not all lies are bad? If you can find an opening, you can probably find a way to float through it?

600

The name of the school where Randy taught and performed his last lecture.

What is...

Carnegie-Mellon University?

600

How Randy showed the audience he was healthy at the beginning of his lecture.

What is...

Doing push-ups?

600

Define the term "anecdote".

What is...

a short story detailing a real event or moment in time?

600

The way Randy's mom describes him as a child.

What is...

Alert but not very precocious?

600

How Pausch's father cemented his own legacy before/during/after death.

What is...

He continued his donations to the charity school in Thailand for 6 years after his death and he donated his body to science?

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